Bogus doctor Matthew Lani apprehended while entering Helen Joseph Hospital .

By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

Department of Health confirmed that ‘Dr’ Matthew Lani has been apprehended by security personnel at the Helen Joseph hospital on Sunday.

Lani made headlines when he was accused of parading as a medical doctor, giving unsolicited medical advice on TikTok.

In a statement, the Gauteng Department of Health said security personnel at Helen Joseph Hospital stopped Lani on Sunday night after he accessed the premises through the main entrance.

“Lani was caught just before 20:00, disguised in a hoodie and wearing a surgical mask with a stethoscope around his neck. He had previously entered the same facility to curate misleading content under the pretence that he was a qualified doctor,” Gauteng health department said.

According to the Department, Lani asked to use the bathroom after he was apprehended and then tried to “escape by jumping through the bathroom window”.

“When the security realised that he was making a run for it, they called for reinforcements, and he was subsequently apprehended again. The police were immediately called. Lani has since been handed over to the police for an official arrest,” the Department added.

Lani meanwhile has denied going live on the video platform moments before his arrest at the Helen Joseph Hospital. Watched by almost 4,000 social media viewers, Lani could be seen in the video in a semi-dark parking lot, wearing a sweater, a face mask, and a theater cap. He briefly makes his way into the facility, announcing his whereabouts to his followers.

After he was spotted on CCTV cameras, it took about five security guards to restrain the bogus medical doctor now seen wearing a SpongeBob T-shirt.

He can be heared apologizing to hospital staff at Helen Joseph, pleading with the hospital not to press charges against him.

A case of impersonating a medical doctor was then opened by the Gauteng health department against Lani at the Brixton Police Station. 

Lani trended on social media after the University of Witwatersrand stated that He never obtained any medical qualifications from its institution. The Department of Education later confirmed that Lani never obtained his Grade 12 certificate.

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